Stepping into the Spotlight

About The Project

The Clear Lake Community School Board and Auditorium Improvements Committee are excited to share plans for a NEW Performing Arts Center to serve the Clear Lake Schools and the greater community.

The project features a spacious modern lobby, expanded seating and improved space for larger audiences, a striking new front entry, and the addition of 48 parking spaces for greater convenience.

Designed to inspire creativity and bring people together, this new facility will be a hub for performances, events, and celebrations. With your support, we can turn this vision into reality—join our Stepping into the Spotlight capital campaign to help create a space that will serve generations to come!

New Auditorium Placement

Project Highlights

The new Clear Lake Performing Arts Center will be used for graduation, band and choir concerts, CLCSD theater performances, Clear Creek concerts, community performances and more!

Front Entry

Improvement: Expanded Parking with 48 new spaces, providing access for visitors & staff

Lobby

Improvement: Connection from the school's existing gym to the auditorium, along with a gallery wall showing local performing achievements.

Auditorium

Improvement: Auditorium designed to accommodate large performances, community events, and school assemblies.

Terrace & Outdoor Class Area

Improvement: A versatile outdoor space for learning, small performances, and community interaction.

Additional facility features include:

A higher auditorium ceiling to improve acoustics
A taller stage and backstage ceiling to accommodate larger set pieces and provide more production options
Expanded backstage and storage areas

Performing Arts Center Walkthrough

Why a New Space is Needed

E.B. Stillman Auditorium, built in 1977 for multi-purpose use, no longer meets the needs of our band, choir, drama and musical productions, or potential traveling shows. Specifically:

Acoustics: The current auditorium’s shape and low ceiling height create poor sound quality. This, along with the low ceiling in the stage and backstage areas, limits the use of scenic backdrops.
Visibility and Safety: The room shape limits audience visibility, and the stage—wide but shallow—poses safety concerns for students and other performers.
Backstage and Storage: Backstage areas, including dressing rooms and green room, are either inadequate or nonexistent. Additionally, there is no dedicated storage space for equipment like choral risers and sound shells, which are currently stored in the wings and obstruct backstage movement.
Set Construction: There’s no space for building or storing set pieces. Currently, these must be stored on stage, further limiting its use during productions.
Storage for Costumes and Props: Storage for choir robes, costumes and props is insufficient and often hard to access, with some spaces only accessible via ladder.
Sound and Video: The sound booth is small and difficult to access and lacks the necessary equipment to handle modern sound and video production needs.

Click here for additional information and pictures.

Fundraising

The total cost of the Clear Lake Performing Arts Center is $16.5 million. The Clear Lake Community School District has committed $14.5 million to this project. The committee is working to secure funding from multiple sources, including public support. Construction is slated to begin in July 2025 with completion expected by late 2026.

There are a number of ways you can contribute financially to the Clear Lake Performing Arts Center.

Supporters at the levels below will be recognized on the donor wall in the lobby of the new facility.

Level name Amount

Supporter $1,000 - $4,999

Associate $5,000 - $14,999

Advocate $15,000 - $24,999

Presenter $25,000 - $49,999

Builder $50,000 - $99,000

Partner $100,000 - $249,999

Benefactor $250,000 - $499,999

Founder $500,000+

In addition, naming rights for certain spaces within or surrounding the facility are available. Each of these would have a name plaque within the space.

Space Amount

Lobby $1,500,000

Gallery wall $1,000,000

Sound booth $500,000

Green room $250,000

Womens’ dressing room $250,000

Mens’ dressing room $250,000

Piano garage $100,000

Outdoor classroom $500,000

Seat* $250

*Those donating at the Seat level will have their name on a plaque in the lobby designating they donated a seat.

How do I donate to the Clear Lake Performing Arts Center project?

Please click on our Donor Form below.

Clear Lake Performing Arts Center Donor Form

Stepping into the Spotlight Donation Information.pdf

Donations can be spread out over two years, with the last payment due by October 2026.

Ways to Get Involved

Whether or not you can provide monetary support, there are other ways you can help support this project.

If you are part of a civic organization or other group, a member of the committee would be happy to bring a presentation to your group.
The committee will be writing for a number of grants and would welcome assistance with this process.
The committee would also welcome your input on other ways we can broaden our outreach.

If you would like to help in one of these areas or have other ideas, please contact us here.

FAQ

What is the cost of the project?

The total cost for the new auditorium is $16.5 million. The Clear Lake Community School District has committed $14.5 million to the project.

Where will this new auditorium go?

The new auditorium will sit at a diagonal between the high school gymnasium and the high school band room. Audience members will be able to enter the auditorium through the new gym vestibule area or the south facing auditorium doors.

What will happen with E.B. Stillman?

The current auditorium will be converted into 8-10 classrooms. Since this space is nicely situated between the middle school and high school, and our district is seeing growth in both of those buildings, both would be able to utilize the space.

How much will this project cost taxpayers?

There will not be an increase to the property tax levy rate due to this project.

How many seats will the new auditorium have compared to the current auditorium?

The current auditorium has a just under 750 seats while the proposed auditorium is expected to have 1,000 seats which will allow us to have more events in the new auditorium such as elementary concerts, graduation and other community events.

What will happen to the current high school courtyard?

The plan for the new auditorium will include an update to the current high school courtyard, which is located off the HS Commons area in between the MS and HS. Proposed updates include terraced seating, landscaping, etc to make the area more user friendly and inviting.